Meemu Atoll · Maldives · Pinnacle · Wall · Cave & cavern
Medhufushi Thila
A 4 m coral top, soft coral at 15–25 m and almost no current
Area photo: Sutirtha Das wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0
Medhufushi Thila is a pinnacle west of Medhufushi island whose hard-coral top sits 4 m below the surface and whose south side carries a band of soft coral at 15 to 25 m above a steep wall with overhangs and caves. The current is described as virtually non-existent, which makes it one of the few Meemu dives open to every level, and reef sharks, tuna and schools of trevally are the likely sightings.
Where it is and how deep
2.9078° N, 73.5547° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
Access is through a north-eastern channel that runs between two wide lagoons; the source describes it as the only way in and out of the site, so the boat positions on that channel and the dive starts on the northern side of the thila. Dolphins sometimes accompany the boat to the start. The top of the pinnacle peaks at 4 m and is covered in hard corals, so the first part of the dive is shallow and bright.
The main section of the dive is the south side of the thila, where a display of soft coral covers the reef between 15 and 25 m, and the overhangs along this face are what the site is known for. From here the sides drop away to a steep wall, and you can take it as low as 35 m for a look at the deeper face. The source's advice is to save bottom time for the caves and the reef fish rather than spend the dive at the bottom of the wall. With almost no current there is no drift to manage, and the pinnacle can be circled at whatever depth suits the group.
Dive The World lists reef sharks, tuna, manta rays and schools of trevallies as likely sightings, and the reef fish on the top and around the caves are the constant. The dive ends back on the shallow hard-coral top, which serves as the safety stop, before the group exits through the same channel it came in by.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Tuna
- Trevally & jacks
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Meemu Atoll: Calmest seas and clearest water on the north-east monsoon, Nov–Apr. Sources disagree on manta timing at Mantas and More (Dec–May versus May–Dec), so do not plan a trip around it.
Questions divers ask
Is Medhufushi Thila suitable for beginners?+
Dive The World rates it for all skill levels because the current is virtually non-existent. The top is at 4 m and the soft-coral face sits at 15–25 m; the wall to 35 m is optional and for Advanced divers.
How deep is Medhufushi Thila?+
The pinnacle peaks at 4 m, the soft coral on its south side is at 15–25 m, and the steep wall can be followed to 35 m, with overhangs and caves on the way down.
Sources
- Medhufushi Thila — Scubago
- Meemu Atoll dive sites — Dive The World
More dive sites in Meemu Atoll
Pinnacle
A soft-coral plateau at 10–15 m and caverns down to 30 m on one thila
Wall
Coral walls to 35 m turning into a sheer drop to the blue, cut with overhangs
Reef
Manta cleaning stations at 10–15 m, with 8–9 mantas at once on a good day
Channel & pass
Rays and sharks on the descent to 30 m, then a soft-coral overhang on the drift
Coral garden
Soft, leather and fan corals with sponges at 15–25 m, and no current
Wreck
A 30 m wooden dhoni on the sand at 20–33 m, open enough to enter
Reef
Grey reef sharks and silvertips resting on the slope at 15–25 m
Cave & cavern
A cavern about 10 m high running from 15 to 30 m
Similar dives elsewhere
Caves and overhangs north, a wall past 60 m east
A narrow swim-through and mantas on a current-split point
Dived day and night, with sharks working the coral
Three pinnacles topping out at 15 m beside an open drop-off